Mauresmo bows out

WIMBLEDON, England – Claps of thunder and streaks of lightning accompanied Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova off tiny Court 3 after they managed to play all of three points at Wimbledon on Tuesday.

As they headed for the locker room, the drizzle became a downpour, sending everyone scurrying across the grounds in a mad dash for cover: players toting racket bags, officials wearing smart blue blazers, spectators cradling cups of strawberries.

At least Williams, Sharapova and others whose matches were suspended in progress – including 2006 runner-up Rafael Nadal, tied 4-4 in the fifth set of a match originally slated for Saturday – know they will play another day at the All England Club.

Not Amelie Mauresmo. Outplayed and unnerved by someone a decade younger, Mauresmo walked off Centre Court with head bowed and nary a wave to the crowd, her title defense done in the fourth round.

Mauresmo’s 14 double-faults and several shanked shots contributed to her departure, as did the big-hitting Czech teen Nicole Vaidisova, who reached her first Wimbledon quarterfinal with a 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-1 victory interrupted three times by rain.

“Everything,” Mauresmo said, “went wrong today.”

That sentiment was shared by tournament organizers, confronted with a growing backlog of matches: 177 total, including 13 in singles.

“It’s ghastly. It’s a serious situation and one of great concern,” tournament referee Andrew Jarrett said. “We will endeavor to complete the championships on time.”

A retractable roof is coming to Centre Court – but not until 2009. So play has been delayed, suspended or stopped by rain on seven of eight days so far – with light showers predicted today. Only seven singles matches were completed Tuesday, including No. 3 Jelena Jankovic’s 6-3, 5-7, 3-6 loss to No. 18 Marion Bartoli.

“So many breaks,” Jankovic said. “It’s not the best thing, and you’re not going to see the best tennis, because players are mentally drained.”

French Open runner-up Ana Ivanovic beat Nadia Petrova 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 and now meets Vaidisova, while 2004 U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova eliminated 16-year-old Tamira Paszek 6-3, 6-2. Kuznetsova’s quarterfinal opponent will be three-time Wimbledon winner Williams or 2004 champion Sharapova.

Williams-Sharapova was scheduled for 13,791-capacity Centre Court, but was shifted to 800-capacity Court 3 as rain came and went during a total of six delays Tuesday.

“This is getting ridiculous,” said Martina Navratilova, who won nine Wimbledon singles titles. “Players coming on the court, off the court.”